Swansea City v Manchester City Premier League Preview and Prediction

Premier League Preview for Swansea City v Manchester City along with Predictions for every result in the EPL. Follow up each match with results and video highlights posted later in the week.

The Week 20 New Year’s Day Premier League Predictions have been posted, so go read up on my EPL picks for the weekend. You can use this preview for your own information or for any betting that you may do which can be done from any of the Premier League Betting Links here on the blog. Be sure to also check out the Premier League TV Schedule and 2013-14 Premier League Table.

Swansea City

This Premier League season has continued to be a largely inconsistent one for the Swans. Against Aston Villa on Saturday, they continued their trend of dominating possession but failing to do much else with it. With 17 shots and only three on target they managed just the one goal. This is pretty much in line with their season averages of 60% possession with 13 shots per game and just over one goal per game.

With that much possession they really need to be doing more with the ball. Coming up against Manchester City they will need to be very careful, but with City’s difficulties on the road Swansea should have a chance and could get a goal. In away matches City has given up an average of 10.8 shots per game resulting in 1.7 goals per game.

Manchester City

The Citizens go into the New Year just one point off of first place with 41 points. A win in Wednesday’s early match would see them go top of the table, even if it might only last till later in the day, it still puts pressure on teams around them.

While they managed to win on Saturday, it was a match in which they really missed the speed and movement of Sergio Aguero. They really struggled to break down a Crystal Palace team that was set up to frustrate and deny good goal scoring chances. Swansea could really learn from this.

Manchester City has also had their difficulties away from the Etihad this season where they have yet to lose or even draw. On the road it is a different story where they have gone 3-2-4 while allowing 15 goals and have kept just one clean sheet in their early 0-0 draw at Stoke City.

Prediction

I’m predicting another Manchester City win in a match that should have at least 2.5 goals scored. In head to head matches Manchester City holds the edge with three wins, one draw and one loss. Manchester City has won seven out of their last eight matches, which also includes two away matches resulting in a 1-1 draw and a 4-2 win.

If Swansea are going to get anything out of this match they will need to take some pointers from Crystal Palace and be able to set themselves up as a team very hard to break down.